Update: M1 likely to stay closed overnight

Press Eye - Northern Ireland -8th April 2016'Photograph: Stephen Hamilton /Presseye''Recovery vehicles pictured at the scene on the M1 motorway into Belfast where a Heavy Goods Vehicle has mounted the central reservation.

Published:21:13Friday 08 April 2016

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Police say the M1 is likely to be closed through the night after a very serious crash between Moira and Lurgan in the evening rush hour.

Three cars were involved in a collision close to Cornakinnegar Bridge between junctions 9 and 10 westbound at around 5.30pm.

One motorist who was driving citybound reported seeing ambulances leaving the scene of the crash at high speed.

Despite this, the police have said that details of any casulaties are “not confirmed nor available at this time”.

A number of emergency services were on the scene with one car flipped over on its side on the hard shoulder and another suffering significant frontal damage. The emergency services have used a screen to shield part of the accident site from motorists who have stopped literally yards from the crash scene.

The motorway was initially closed between these junctions to westbound traffic and now a subsequent closure has been implemented on the eastbound side of the M1 between the same junctions.

A second collision also took place approximately one mile away, also countrybound.

The collisions and closures have had a significant impact on traffic with massive disruption and delays to journeys.

“The M1 is likely to remain closed into the night,” said a police spokesman.